Carnival Cruise Line has revealed additional details about BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea and the centrepiece of the Ultimate Playground, an expansive open-air recreation area on the cruise ship Mardi Gras, set to debut in August 2020.
The cruise line's president Christine Duffy made this announcement at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Conference in Orlando.
She revealed that BOLT?s all-electric, motorcycle-inspired vehicles will be adorned with metallic red and blue stripes and a yellow lightning bolt. The vehicle will also feature a digital speedometer display and speakers with new sound effects.
Cameras will be located along the 800-foot-long track, as well as within the vehicle itself, providing riders with unique photo keepsakes as they take in 360-degree views and race 187 feet above the sea with drops, dips and hairpin turns achieving speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Guests get to choose their own speed.
She said: ?Whether guests want to get an adrenaline rush or take it slow and enjoy the breath-taking views, BOLT will have it all. Combining the most talented designers, technicians and attractions professionals in the industry, we?ve taken FUN to a whole new level with this amazing onboard experience that is also a true game-changer in our industry.?
BOLT will take centre stage in the Ultimate Playground, one of Mardi Gras? six themed zones, spanning Decks 18-20 and home to the largest WaterWorks aqua park in the Carnival fleet featuring three unique heart-racing slides designed for all-ages fun.
Blue Lightning will offer 312 feet of high-speed twists and turns, while the 229-foot-long Orange Thunder drop-down slide will propel guests into a wet ?n wild splash zone. Carnival?s signature Twister slide is 265 feet. Other features will include a splash-tastic zone just for kids with a 150-gallon PowerDrencher tipping bucket and numerous water toys.
The expanded SportSquare recreation complex features a 600-foot-long suspended ropes course ? the longest in the fleet ? a nine-hole miniature golf course, a jogging track and outdoor fitness equipment, and a basketball court.
Mardi Gras is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. It is slated to enter service in Europe on August 31, 2020, before repositioning to New York for a series of voyages and shift to Port Canaveral for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning in October 2020.
For more information, go to www.carnival.com.
